Assignments

September – October 2010 WRESA Please respond to each of the following discussion topics on the WIKI discussion page. Clearly label each of your responses with the module number. Since this is a book study, it is expected that in addition to posting your own responses to each module, you will comment on other participants’ postings as well. Contact me if you have any questions: cbennett@wresa.org ** Module 1  ** Read the foreword, preface, and chapter one. Think about Ralph’s reasons for writing this book and describe your reasons for taking this class. Try to use a couple of seventy-five cent words in your description and give the other class participants an aesthetic experience. J  **  Module 2  ** In chapter two, Ralph describes his love affair with words. After reading about his experiences with language play, reflect on your own experiences with words (from elementary school, high school, college, etc.) Would you label your experiences as a love affair with words? Explain why or why not and if not, what would you call it? ** Module 3 ** Read chapters three, four, and five. Ralph discusses the importance of language and humor. Do you agree that children love language play and that it “carries the huge cognitive benefit of helping children become more proficient language users” and that we need to empower young writers to explore becoming more playful with words? Explain your reasoning and share any personal experiences you have had with the topic. ** Module 4  ** Now that we are getting serious (reading chapters six and seven), try one of the craft lessons that Ralph refers to (located in chapter 16) with your students and write about how it went. Were your students ** // strugglesome // ** or ** // confuzzled // **? Or did the lesson improve students’ penmanship so much it was really something to write home about? ** Module 5  ** After reading chapter eight, consider Ralph’s closing statements: “Idioms and expressions allow writers to convey abstract ideas that are otherwise hard to put into words. If we regularly share them with our students, they will become more aware and may start collecting (or creating) their own. Expressions may not necessarily be the shortest distance between two points but, pound for pound, they include some of the most potent tools any writer could have.” Then select an idiom or expression and design a writing lesson; explain how you would incorporate it into the instructional component. ** Module 6  ** Read chapters six and seven. Choose one of the books listed (suggested for teaching allusions or sentence writing) and read it aloud to your students. Write about their reactions. ** Module 7  ** Do you agree that educators have long valued play as an ideal environment for learning? Or do you agree with Ralph that some of us have been out of the play for too long and need a refresher course? Describe how you have used playfulness in your classrooms and describe its effect on the learning environment. ** Module 8  ** In chapter twelve, Ralph discusses common principles for teachers when they approach language play in writing workshops. How do you feel about these principles? Describe how you plan to incorporate one or more of the principles in your teaching this year. ** Module 9  ** As you read Ralph’s cautions about labeling techniques in chapter thirteen, consider how you plan to balance the playfulness of the language and the naming of the techniques. Have you had a similar experience to Ralph’s bird watching? What are you willing to do to help your students experience these kinds of inquiries? ** Module 10  ** Read chapters fourteen and fifteen. Describe how you plan to use the information from this book study to improve the teaching of writing. Describe any potential obstacles you may face and how you plan to overcome them. ** Upon completion of all requirements, you will receive a certificate for 10 contact hours (1 CEU) in the mail. **
 * Teaching Students Word Play to Inspire Better Writing Online Book Study Class **